Photographic fluid-spreading apparatus

Claim 2

In apparatus for alternately distributing processing fluid in a layer having a first predetermined thickness and in a layer having a second predetermined thickness less that said first predetermined thickness between a pair of sheet materials, at least one of such sheet materials comprising a photographic component, the improvement comprising: a first elongated fluid-spreading member having a facing surface; a second elongated fluid-spreading member extending in a generally parallel relationship to said first fluid-spreading member and having a facing surface intermediate the ends thereof disposed in juxtaposition to an intermediate section of said facing surface of said first fluid-spreading member; means for yieldably urging such fluid-spreading members together; means for establishing a minimum spacing between said juxtaposed facing surfaces and for controlling the spread of such processing fluid in a layer of such first predetermined thickness between a pair of sheet materials as they are advanced between said spreading members; and means on said second fluid-spreading member for controlling the spread of such processing fluid in a layer of such second predetermined thickness between a pair of sheet materials as they are advanced between said spreading members.

Claim 3

In apparatus for alternately distributing processing fluid in a layer having a first predetermined thickness and in a layer having a second predetermined thickness less than said first predetermined thickness between sheet materials of a predetermined width, at least one of such sheet materials comprising a photographic component, the improvement comprising: a first elongated fluid-spreading member having a facing surface; a second elongated fluid-spreading member extending in generally parallel relationship to said first fluid-spreading member and having a facing surface intermediate the ends thereof disposed in juxtaposition to an intermediate section of said facing surface of said first fluid-spreading member; first means for yieldably urging said fluid-spreading members together; second means for establishing a minimum spacing between said juxtaposed facing surfaces and for controlling the spread of such processing fluid in a layer of such first predetermined thickness between such sheet materials as they are advanced lengthwise between said spreading members, said second means including a pair of elements disposed adjacent respective ends of said second fluid-spreading member for displacement between first positions wherein they are spaced a distance apart greater than the width of such sheet materials and therefore ineffective to control the thickness of the fluid layer spread between such sheet materials as they are advanced lengthwise between said spreading members and second positions wherein they are spaced a distance apart less than the width of such sheet materials and therefore adapted to control the thickness of the fluid layer spread between such sheet materials as they are advanced lengthwise between such spreading members; third means for controlling the spread of such processing fluid in a layer of such second predetermined thickness between such sheet materials as such sheet materials aRe advanced between said spreading members and said elements are disposed in their said first positions; and fourth means for selectively displacing said members between their said first and second positions.

Claim 4

In apparatus for alternately distributing processing fluid in a layer having a first predetermined thickness and in a layer having a second predetermined thickness less than said first predetermined thickness between sheet materials of a predetermined width, at least one of such sheet materials comprising a photographic component, the improvement comprising: a first elongated fluid-spreading member having a facing surface; a second elongated fluid-spreading member extending in generally parallel relationship to said first fluid-spreading member and having a facing surface intermediate the ends thereof disposed in juxtaposition to an intermediate section of said facing surface of said first fluid-spreading member; first means for yieldably urging said fluid-spreading members together; second means for establishing a minimum spacing between said juxtaposed facing surfaces and for controlling the spread of such processing fluid in a layer of such first predetermined thickness between such sheet materials as they are advanced lengthwise between said spreading members, said second means including a pair of elements disposed adjacent respective ends of said second fluid-spreading member for displacement between first positions wherein they are spaced a distance apart greater than the width of such sheet materials and therefore ineffective to control the thickness of the fluid layer spread between such sheet materials as they are advanced lengthwise between said spreading members and second positions wherein they are spaced a distance apart less than the width of such sheet materials and therefore adapted to control the thickness of the fluid layer spread between such sheet materials as they are advanced lengthwise between such spreading members; third means for controlling the spread of such processing fluid in a layer of such second predetermined thickness between such sheet materials as such sheet materials aRe advanced between said spreading members and said elements are disposed in their said first positions; and fourth means for selectively displacing said members between their said first and second positions.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said third means are formed on one of said spreading members.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said third means comprises a pair of projecting members disposed adjacent respective ends of said second facing surface and spaced a distance apart less than the width of such sheet materials.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 3 wherein said third means extend from said facing surface of one said spreading member towards said facing surface of the other said spreading member a distance substantially equivalent to such second predetermined thickness.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 5 wherein at least said one spreading member comprises a roller and said third means comprises a pair of collars on said roller adjacent opposite ends of said facing surface of said roller.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said minimum spacing between said juxtaposed facing surfaces is substantially equivalent to such first predetermined thickness.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said apparatus additionally comprises means for precluding processing fluid from being expressed from between the longitudinal edges of such sheet materials as they are advanced between said fluid spreading members.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 8 wherein said means for precluding the expressing of such fluid comprises configurations of respective ends of said fluid-spreading members providing a spacing between juxtaposed sections of said fluid spreading members extending beyond said juxtaposed facing surfaces thereof greater than the spacing between said juxtaposed facing surfaces, whereby said fluid-spreading members do not exert a pressure on the longitudinal edge portions of such sheet materials tending to force such fluid therefrom.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 9 wherein said means for precluding the expressing of such fluid at such times as said elements are disposed in their said second positions comprises sheet contacting surfaces on said second members configured to engage respective longitudinal edge portions of such sheet materials at positions spaced from respective longitudinal edges of such sheet materials.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 2 wherein at least one of said fluid-spreading members comprises a roller.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said fluid-spreading members comprise a pair of rollers.

Claim 15

The improvement of claim 2 wherein each said element comprises a circular sheet contacting surface.

Claim 16

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said third means comprises a pair of circular sheet-contacting surfaces.

Claim 17

The improvement of claim 2 wherein each said element comprises a annular collar having a circular sheet-contacting surface.

Claim 18

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said fourth means comprises at least one camming device.

Claim 19

The improvement of claim 2 wherein said second spreading member comprises a pair of shafts respectively extending beyond the ends of said facing surface thereof and spaced a greater distance from said facing surface of said first spreading member than is said facing surface of said second spreading member and each said element is slideably mounted on one of said shafts.

Claim 20

8. The improvement of claim 17 wherein each said shaft has a recessed channel extending therealong, said second means additionally includes a key slidably mounted in each said channel and connected to a respective said element, and said fourth means comprises means for continually urging said keys in a direction wherein said elements are disposed in their first or second respective positions and means to selectively displace said keys in opposite directions along said channels to locate said elements in their respective positions.

Claim 21

The improvement of claim 18 wherein said means to displace said keys comprises at leAst one cam track disposed in operable relationship to the ends of one said key furthermost disposed from said facing surface of said second spreading member.

Claim 22

The improvement of claim 17 wherein said second spreading member comprises a roller, said shafts each comprises a cylindrical portion connected to said roller by a frustoconical section having a cross section which increases in area as it extends away from said cylindrical portion, and the end of each said element adjacent said roller includes a complementary frustoconical recess whereby said frustoconical sections of said shafts and said recesses of their respective said elements serve to accurately align said elements on said extensions when said elements are disposed in their said second positions.